Category: Service

PCA Debuts New Seminar for Plumbing Service Contractors

This summer, the PCA is beta testing a new seminar on Plumbing Service to its members.  The Plumbing Service Roundtable is designed to be an efficient, one-day seminar that will allow attendees to be out of the office as little as possible.

The roundtable is scheduled for June 21st at the Hilton Chicago O’Hare, conveniently attached to the airport.  With a program scheduled from 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM, attendees will have the ability to fly in and out the same day to maximize their time out of the office.

Sessions will primarily be led by contractors with the intention to open up dialog between attendees and share best practices.  The curriculum will include content on recruiting, training, technology, inventory, sales and truck setup.

With this new session being a beta-test, registration will be limited to 35 attendees and a limit of only one attendee per company.  It is also recommended that attendees already be engaged in plumbing service at some level in order to share their experiences.

Registration is open and available on a first-come, first-served basis.  For more information, download the brochure or register online.

 

Hackers Cripple Boeing with Ransomware

Nick Espinosa, Chief Security Fanatic and featured speaker at the upcoming MSCA18 Conference, gives a quick update about what happened and how MCAA and MSCA contractors are often targeted as access points for larger corporations. Update and patch your software so that you are not the easy prey for criminal hackers.

Member Company, Arista, Boosts Consumer Confidence with New XOi Wearable Technology

The collaboration of member company Arista, NYC metro area’s leading HVAC contractor, and XOi Technologies revolutionizes the way the HVAC service industry interacts with clients by empowering customers to see the tasks completed on a service call rather than trying to decipher job details from a bill. Customers no longer have to rely solely on trust when assessing job performance and are provided with video documentation of each service call.

Leading HVAC companies, like Arista, are beginning to use new video documentation technology provided by companies similar to XOi Technologies that helps them prove the value they provide to their customers with planned maintenance and repair service.

An HVAC technician in the field uses wearable technology that looks like a pair of
safety glasses, but actually allows them to take video of what they see and do. They can record video evidence that shows you exactly what they’re doing and why.

Arista’s evidence-based approach to service assures customers they are getting what they pay for; the bill matches the services rendered. The video documentation is a useful record-keeping tool, especially for business owners and property managers in charge of multiple sites.

MSCA Connect DATELINE Jan/Feb 2018

Click and CONNECT with DATELINE, MSCA’s monthly newsletter! What you need to know to catch up on the latest news and information and all things – MSCA.

New MCAA Safety Bulletin Covers Key Changes to NFPA 70E (Electrical Safety in the Workplace)

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently released its latest standard covering electrical safety in the workplace. The most current version of the standard, which is on a 3-year revision cycle, is NFPA 70E – 2018. MCAA has prepared a safety bulletin covering the key changes that affect mechanical service workers who are working on equipment pushing 480 volts or less. The bulletin highlights the key changes on the front page, and provides a side-by-side comparison of the key changes between the 2015 and 2018 versions of the standard on subsequent pages.

Safety Bulletin

Additional MCAA/MSCA safety resources to help your company address the key changes to NFPA 70E  for 2018 will be available later this month. The resources include:

  • A new model lockout/tagout program for electrical safety in the workplace (the revised standard requires a written electrical safety lockout/tagout program); and
  • A revised model program on Electrical Safety for Service (Based on NFPA 70E – 2018).

If you have questions about the new standard, please contact Pete Chaney at pchaney@mcaa.org, or 301-990-2214.

Sales Masters Attendees Say that MSCA Sales Masters Program Delivers the Best ROI!

“My personal experience with the Sales Masters program was prolific and educational. Our instructors were dynamic in a way that allowed you to showcase your strengths and improve your weaknesses. Thanks to their program, I achieved an overall higher closing ratio.”  
Eli M. Mimari – H.T. Lyons, Inc.

News Update – for a Limited Time ONLY, the Sales Masters Program is waiving the prerequisite of attendance at the Sales Leadership Symposium so take advantage of this waiver and enroll now. Week One is April 15-19, 2018 in Oak Brook, IL and Week Two is November 4-9, 2018 in Houston, TX. Limited spaces available and no prerequisite, so sign up today!

The curriculum, designed by in-the-field experts in partnership with sales specialists from the University of Houston Sales Excellence Institute, is for the intermediate to advance level service sales employee. The tools and insights learned in Sales Masters are certain to take your sales professionals to the next level and allow them to become the go-to resource for their teams and customers.

REGISTER HERE TODAY

Strengthen Your Service Dispatcher’s Performance!

Registration is now open for the much-anticipated and in demand MSCA Dispatchers Professional Development Training Program to be held September 12-13, 2018 in Kansas City, MO!

As the first point of contact for your customers, service dispatchers are vital to your business. To ensure these crucial team members are well-prepared to effectively perform their role, register them for the MSCA Dispatchers Professional Development Training Program.

New and experienced dispatchers will gain valuable insights and understanding about their importance to your business and its current and future success. This class SELLS OUT FAST so sign up your dispatchers today!

Past MSCA Chair Dick Starr Featured in Contracting Business Magazine

The CB Interview: Dick Starr

Controls innovator and past MSCA chair, Dick Starr, reflects on his career in controls, the HVAC industry, his experience and service with MSCA and MCAA and shares his years of knowledge in this interview.

Dick recently sold his company, The Enterprise Corporation, that he purchased in 1977 to a colleague within his network but he will continue to be involved in its daily functioning.

Read the article by clicking the button below.

2018 Regional Training Course Catalog Now Available

The United Association Training Department is pleased to offer HVACR industry courses in an agreement with the following major HVACR manufacturers through the 2018 Regional Training System: Carrier Corporation, Daikin and Johnson Controls.

These classes are being offered at NO charge to attendees – registration fees will be covered by the ITF. Employers will be responsible for wages and all travel costs. Class size is limited and these classes fill up quickly. Priority is given to UA instructors.

Contact your local UA Training Coordinator to register through UA University. For course descriptions and requirements, please download the course catalog. You can find the courses described below beginning on page 12.

MSCA’s Popular Plumbing Service 101, Fifth Webinar is February 8th and Registration is Now Open!

This fifth webinar in the MSCA original series, Plumbing Service 101, Operations Part 1, will explore the key personnel and organizational structure required to establish, sell, and grow a viable plumbing services division.

There are many similarities between HVACR and plumbing operations. While some of a company’s existing resources can be shared, others are unique to plumbing. Failing to take these exclusive requirements into consideration can spell disaster. This webinar will explore the key personnel and organizational structure required to establish, sell, and grow a viable plumbing services division.

The webinar is scheduled for February 8th at 1:00 pm EST, sign up today!

MSCA Connect DATELINE December 2017

Happy Holidays! All of us at MSCA wish you a very happy, healthy and prosperous hoiliday season!

Click and CONNECT with DATELINE, MSCA’s monthly newsletter! What you need to know to catch up on the latest news and information and all things – MSCA.

Registration for Growing and Developing Service Supervisors is Now Open!

MSCA’s Growing and Developing Service Supervisors program, scheduled for April 19-20, 2018 and to be held in Brookfield, WI, is a two-day hands-on program that uses real world exercises and relatable video recorded role plays that engages participants. Your Service Supervisor will be able to easily incorporate the skills learned from this program into their everyday responsibilities.

Every participant who completes the program will receive a Certificate of Completion and a comprehensive workbook to use for day-to-day responsibilities in areas such as safety, operations, training, tools and vehicles. This valuable workbook contains more than 100 sample forms, procedures, checklists and reports that field supervisors use daily. Sign up for this program by clicking the button below.

MSCA CONNECT 2017 Featured in the NEWS (ACHRNews)!

MSCA CONNECT 2017 is featured in the current issue of the NEWS, the HVACR Contractor’s Weekly Newsmagazine. Under the title, “MSCA Connect – Where Everybody Knows a Trade”, the article is a well-written summary of our action-packed, education-filled, exciting and fun four-day conference at the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida this past October!

Read the article by clicking the button below!

Get Profitable Results and Improve Performance with MSCA’s Sales Basecamp!

Have you recently added new sales staff to your team? Could your current sales team members benefit from taking a refresher course? If your answer is “Yes”, register them now for MSCA’s Sales Basecamp, February 5-6 to be held in Phoenix, AZ. Class size is limited and fills up fast so don’t miss out!

This popular, in-demand, two day program will provide your sales team member with the skills needed to build long-term customer relationships, efficiently and effectively prospect for results, understand the MSCA Sales Cycle, prepare for that first critical meeting and handle objections professionally during the proposal presentation.

Click on the buttons below to register or learn more!

Want to Educate Your Workers About Workplace Distractions? This Video Can Help!

MCAA’s Workplace Distractions Safety Training Video will help your workers recognize and avoid the most common industry-related workplace distractions.

Your workers will learn about the four most common types of distractions:

  • Driving distractions
  • Electronic distractions
  • Environmental distractions
  • Personal distractions

Download or play the video

There’s More…

Accompanying materials are also available to assist you in highlighting key training points, documenting worker training and confirming that workers understand the training concepts:

Highlight key training points

Download the Pocket Guide

Document worker training

Download the Documentation Sheet

Confirm that workers understand the training concepts

Download the Test

Download the Test Answer Key

Want Even More Safety Resources?

MCAA has you covered, with a full range of resources to help you protect your workers from injury and comply with applicable safety regulations. Here’s where to find them:

On our Direct Links to MCAA & MSCA Safety Resources page, where they’re listed by category with links.

Go there now

In the Resource Center, where you can use the blue Refine Your Search bar to pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for.

Visit the Resource Center

Have questions or need personal assistance?

Contact MCAA’s Pete Chaney.

Announcing MSCA Sales Institute Program Schedule for 2018!

Announcing the MSCA Sales Institute Program Schedule For 2018!
Registration is Now Open So Sign Up For Your Class Today!

January 29 – 30, 2018, Sales Leadership Symposium in Irvine, CA
February 5 – 6 , 2018, Sales Basecamp in Phoenix, AZ
April 15 – 19, 2018, Sales Masters Week 1 in Oak Brook, IL
May 7 – 8, 2018,  Sales Basecamp in Chicago, IL
November 4 – 9, 2018, Sales Masters Week 2  in Houston, TX

MSCA’s Sales Institute, an MSCA University program is the first and only focused training program specific to service sales in the HVACR industry. This program, unlike any other, provides a clear career path for growing and developing service sales professionals to ensure their success, enhance their value to the company, encourage retention and, ultimately, increase sales. Nowhere else does such a comprehensive educational offering exist that focuses on your needs.

Sign up using the links below:

Sales Leadership Symposium

Sales Basecamp

Sales Masters Week 1 Sales Masters Week 2

MSCA CONNECT 2017 Post-Conference Website is Live!

We give our sincerest thanks to all the conference attendees who made MSCA CONNECT 2017 the best attended MSCA conference to date and to those who were unable to attend this year, here’s a peek at what you missed and a good snapshot of what’s to come for MSCA CONNECT 2018.

We hope that all of you will join us for next year’s conference to be held October 21-24, 2018 in Huntington Beach, CA at the Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort and Spa! So please Save the Date!

MSCA CONNECT 2017 Education Conference Recap Video:

Click below to see the MSCA CONNECT 2017 Post Conference Website!

Need Help Managing Your Business Finances? Check Out These Bulletins!

Staying on top of your company’s finances can be challenging, especially during periods of economic volatility. With that in mind, MCAA’s Management Methods Committee produced bulletins that address the most critical accounting and financial issues facing your business.

The bulletins cover a wide range of topics from general guidelines—Tips to Help Contractors Manage Through an Economic Downturn, Guide to Financial Statements and Credit Policy Criteria—to more specific issues, such as Cash Flow, Service Mark-ups vs. Construction Mark-ups and Other Direct Job Costs (ODJC’s) and Indirect Job Costs. Each bulletin provides detailed, current information that will not only help you keep your finances in balance but may also streamline your company’s accounting processes and improve your business relationships with your customers, project associates and equipment suppliers.

Want to See All of the Management Methods Bulletins?

You can find them on our Management Methods Bulletins page, where they’re listed by category with links.

GO THERE NOW

Or in the Resource Center, where you can use the blue Refine Your Search bar to pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for.

VISIT THE RESOURCE CENTER

MSCA Appoints First Female Chair of MSCA Board of Managers

NEWS RELEASE

Mechanical Service Contractors of America Names First Woman Chair of MSCA Board of Managers

Jaimi Lomas, VP of Service, A.O. Reed & Co., makes MSCA history

ROCKVILLE, MD—The Mechanical Service Contractors of America (MSCA) announced the appointment of Jaimi Lomas, vice president of service at A. O. Reed in San Diego, CA, as the first woman chair of the MSCA board of managers during its 32nd annual education conference in Boca Raton, Florida. Kip Bagley, vice president of service at EMCOR Services, Mesa Energy Systems, Irvine, CA, will serve as vice chairman, Steve Smith, senior vice president of ACCO Engineered Systems, Inc., Glendale, CA, will serve as treasurer and Chris Carter, vice president of service at Murphy Company, St. Louis, MO, will now serve as past chairman.

Jaimi Lomas, vice president of service for A.O. Reed & Co. in San Diego, CA is a 20+ year veteran of the company and is responsible for sales, operations, and the overall growth and financial health of the service division. With over 10 years in her current role at A.O. Reed & Co., Jaimi is expert in building strategic customer relationships and has a true passion for developing internal culture and mentoring employee success.  As a female in a male dominated industry, Jaimi is focused on building an inclusive and diverse organization that reflects the community and allows individuals to contribute and reach their full potential. Jaimi was selected as the 2011 HVAC Woman of the Year by HVAC News, and has been an active leader with BOMA in San Diego for over 20 years. She has served on the MSCA marketing committee for 10 years and as its chairman for the past two years as well as serving on the MSCA Board of Managers for six years. Jaimi is currently President of the Mechanical Service Contractors of San Diego. For over a decade she has been a committed Big Sister for Girls Rising where she has inspired many young women.